Saints were beaten 10-20 by Hull KR on Friday evening at the Totally Wicked Stadium…
First Half
Hull KR had the first good chance to apply pressure. An escort on the Saints line as Jack Welsby gave them a penalty ten metres out, but some strong defence from the hosts kept them out. A poor kick from Saints the following set sailed into touch on the full, gifting the Robins another set on our line.
During that set, we had a trip to the video referee. Tyrone May’s high crossfield kick on the last tackle was fumbled by a Saints hand, Mikey Lewis picked the loose ball up and dove over in the corner to open the scoring. The on-field verdict of try quickly agreed with. Lewis’ kick bounced out off the post, 0-4 Hull KR led.
The visitors had a great chance to extend that lead soon after. Another error from Saints gifted the Robins the ball inside our half. KR shifted it left, Oliver Gildart broke through a gap and offloaded towards Lewis under pressure but the try-scorer was unable to collect the ball and Saints survived.
It took 26 minutes for Saints to get any meaningful territory. The hosts tried to move it through the hands down the left edge but the ball went to ground and the visitors recovered it.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the opening half an hour, Saints levelled. The hosts kept the ball alive, with Welsby running across the face of the defence and he put a kick in which Curtis Sironen collected unopposed to level the scores. Mark Percival nailed the left touchline conversion, 6-4 Saints led.
Outstanding @Saints1890 score 💯#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/oiWky9pJae
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 7, 2025
Just before the break, we had another trip to the video referee. Off the back of a dubious penalty, Hull KR moved the ball right, Jack Broadbent breaking through a gap and he found Tom Davies who finished acrobatically in the corner. The on-field verdict of try again quickly agreed with. Lewis converted from the touchline, 6-10 Saints trailed as we headed for the break.
⏸ The Saints are down by four points at the break against Hull KR
Live Match Centre
➡ https://t.co/tFDDD0qP5d#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/rDBN4Btg1C— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 7, 2025
Second Half
The visitors grabbed the first points of the second half. A high, hanging kick to the Hull KR left edge was claimed by Joe Burgess, he was able to offload to Gildart who planted the ball over the line to score from close range. Lewis missed the conversion attempt, 6-14.
A fourth try quickly followed. Burgess broke down the left wing, he found Gildart in support who grabbed his second try in three minutes. Lewis converted, 6-20.
Saints tried to respond. A good hit forced a Hull KR knock on inside their own half. Saints tried to move the ball from right to left but Percival’s attempted quick pass to Jon Bennison dribbled into touch.
Saints did reply with just under 15 minutes on the clock though. On the last tackle, Saints moved it through the hands from left to right and Jack Welsby did well to shrug off a tackle and score under pressure from close range. Percival couldn’t convert, 10-20 Saints trailed.
The @Saints1890 are still in this one 👀#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/sNdBdzaJQk
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 7, 2025
Saints continued to push. A high kick was allowed to bounce by the visitors and Saints chased well, but Davies just about won the race to the loose ball to keep Saints out.
⏹ The Saints suffer their first defeat of the 2025 Super League season#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/GTs3Svk6tK
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 7, 2025
You can download or print the official teamsheet by clicking here.
Match Summary
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, George Delaney, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Jake Wingfield, Matt Whitley, Agnatius Passi, Noah Stephens.
18th Man: James Bell.
Tries: Curtis Sironen (31), Jack Welsby (67)
Conversions: Mark Percival (1 from 2)
Hull KR Team: Jack Broadbent, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Michael McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.
Interchanges: Jez Litten, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Kelepi Tanginoa.
18th Man: Jack Brown.
Tries: Mikey Lewis (10), Tom Davies (38), Oliver Gildart (50, 53)
Conversions: Mikey Lewis (2 from 4)
HT: 6-10
FT: 10-20
Attendance: 11,438
